The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-31
q NEcLecrep STUDY.
various ways IN whirii Afothers q Amuss

-. IT,
vsssoss ways IN whlri, Mothers q 4 Amuss
y y Their Litsle Ones.
Many mothers End it difficult to
amuso their babies. They say that thcy
have no talent for storytelling or for
invcnting plays. Perhaps they have
never tried to entertain their little ones
as they try to caro- for their physical
needs. The little ones revelin the gro
tesque, tho odd, the unexpectant. The
personiilcation Of the common creatures
about them affords endless interest. A
frctful child of eighteen months or two
years will stop crying Mt once II you
talk to him about kjtty's fur cloak. and
y ask him how she keeps her white stock
ings so clean. A baby too young to
Talk was so restless and "cross" that
he could not 60 TO sleep as usual. His
mother rocked him aud walked about
with him in her arms till she was tired
out. A lady who happened in took him,
and, going to the canary's cage, said:
''Sec birdie, fast asleep in his little yell
low nightgown," The child laughed
aloud. He had experienced q reaction
from his frclful mood. and soon dropped
asleep. n
Little children suffer in chilly,
prosaic, grown-up atmosphere. Help
them to make believe and they will
amuse themselves. Two mothers OF
4 my acquaintance pursued two different
methods with their babies. Each had
her own housework to do. One set the
little mischievous tot on the carpet
with some familiar toys, and expected
her to stay there while the dishes were
being washed. the bread kneaded, and
the silver polished. The consequence
was, the child soon left the monotonous
playthings. the well-known rubber
rattle, the picturc-book and the painted
blocks, and tugged at her mothers
a skirts, fretting and teasing; or she left
her station on the carpet for the fasci-
mating occupation of picking off the
=. wallpaper. The other mother put Miss
: Baby in her high-chair, tied and braced
81 q to avoid accident, and on table be-
fore her set a shallow pun with half-a-
e pint of water in it. She gave bit of rag
y and the child's tin dishes, and let her
!. ..help mamma. Protected by an oil
cloth bib. the water did her no harm;
q and for full hour the little thing
/ washed and dried her dishes, and
washed them over again, the mother
,chattering with her happily. This
3 woman was even then in mourning for
the baby's father, but was too wise to
chill the sensitive .child-spirit with the
q cloud Of her own sorrow. dtIpl ml
The baby must be made to under
stand that thus far it can 60 and no
further; but within its own limits it
should be humored. pleased and inter-
ested. 1t is neccssaryto natural. healthy
developement that the baby's mind
chould be serene. its feelings respected,
] that its spirit should bc bathcd in sum
shine. Many mother sets her gera-
niums In the sun and frOwns at tho
baby.
As to stories, very little invention is
required for two-year-old. Hhe be told
in the form of story just what he did
the day before, he will be interested,
The true story of the baby-birds whose
mother was takea away from them will
be listened to over and over. The &C
!,o count Of the little gray mouse tina,
went hunting for cheese and got caugh,
in q trap while Bhby was asleep will
suffice for many entertainments. The
!. mother who tries amplifying and EN-.
I@ bellishing these little histories will find
her power increasing. The child can
be taught many lesson Of sympathy
with animals in this simple way.
.n 1t is, necessary to study for good re-
- suits in every department. of life. How
. many mothers set themselves to study
= the best ways to entertain their chill.
y drenp These little ones want occupa.
tion for body and mind; they want en-.
couragement md sympathy. = great
deal of both; they want firm restric-
e, tions, and. within those. sunny, joyous
freedom. Thus treated, they will soon
D; be Z a real help to the wise, loving
(, mother.--Babyhood. aA.